Waterproof cases and strategies to protect your iPhone

Posts tagged: LifeProof

LifeProof used CES 2014 to announce that they will be releasing a realtree camouflage version of their popular waterproof cases for the iPhone 5 and 5s. In fact, they have released 4 color patterns for the camo cases:

Black/RealTree Xtra

Dark Flat Earth / RealTree Max5

Olive Drab Green / RealTree Xtra Green

Pink / RealTree APC

This comes on the heels of releasing a popular camo version for the iPhone 4/4s. The camo cases for the iPhone 5/5s are only available for the Frē line of waterproof cases, which include a thin screen protector for the phone. All regular functions of the Frē case are included, which you read about here.

No word yet whether a camo version will be available for the Nüüd line of touchscreen cases, or if a version will be released for the popular iPhone 5c.

LifeProof has extended their Nüüd product line and released a waterproof case for the iPhone 5s. Similar to their Nüüd case for iPhone 5c, this case is top of the line and feature packed. Instead of a cover or protector over the screen, the screen is left bare so you can touch it directly. Even so, the case is waterproof to 6.6ft (2m) for up to an hour. They have incorporated a thinner home button to allow for Touch ID and incorporated their clear back plate for styling.

LifeProof has reengineered the home button into a different material and different shape, as is visible above. The aggressive styling was done to incorporate connectivity with Apple’s new Touch ID verification system, which is working perfectly on LifeProof’s cases. To do this, they needed to add a thinner home button material that can transmit the fingerprint data, all while keeping the case waterproof. They might have redesigned the shape around it to help with the waterproofing or to add additional styling.

Besides Touch ID, the phone has a long list of features. Multiple speaker and microphone vents insure that calls are clear and music can be played through the case. LifeProof allows access to all phone features and buttons, including power, volume, ringer switch, and home buttons. Waterproof headphone use is available with a an adapter, and charging can be accomplished with the phone in the case. The phone features a clear back piece, much like the similar Fre for iPhone 5s. This was also done for the iPhone 5c line of cases and may be LifeProof’s new styling direction. The case is very small and tight around the phone, and is very lightweight at 1.44oz. Both cameras are operational, including flash. The rear camera features a glass cover for optimal picture quality.

While you can touch the phone’s screen directly, the phone is still waterproof. This is accomplished by a gasket seal around the perimeter of the touchscreen. This compresses when the case is closed, forming a barrier to water. Water can still contact the all glass screen of your phone, but it does not cause damage as it does not go anywhere. This is the feat of the Nüüd and makes it an awesome, minimal everyday case. You no longer have to worry about lag from interacting with a screen protector.

Dimensions, Ratings and Technical Specifications

Company:

LifeProof

Title:

Nüüd

Phone:

iPhone 5s

Release Date:

November,2013

Height:

5.45″ / 138.43mm

Width:

2.65″ / 67.31mm

Thickness:

0.56″ / 14.22mm

Weight:

1.44oz / 40.82g

Initial Price:

$89

Colors:

Black w/ clear back; White w/ clear back

Depth Rating:

6.6 ft, 60 minutes

Drop Test:

6.6 feet

Dust Proof:

IP-68 rating

Crush Proof:

n/a

Use Headphones:

Yes

Waterproof w/ Headphones:

Yes, with adapter

Charging Port:

Yes

Home Button:

Yes

Power Button:

Yes

Volume Buttons:

Yes

Ringer Switch:

Yes

Camera:

Yes

Flash:

Yes

Front Camera:

Yes

Front Sensors:

Yes

Microphone Ports:

3

Speaker Ports:

2

Materials:

Plastic, soft overmold

Closure System:

Snap Fit, o-ring, plastic latch

Touch ID:

Yes

Screen Protector:

No – perimeter seal, you touch actual touchscreen

Overall, this case can be considered industry leading as it has everything you could want from a waterproof case for your iPhone. At launch, the case is selling for an industry leading $89 but that will drop over time. Lowest prices and free shipping can be found on Amazon.

LifeProof has released their Frē waterproof case for the new iPhone 5c. Continuing their theme of clarity and color, the case is available in only two color options – black and white – with clear backs. This allows for the brilliant colors of the iPhone 5c to show through, making this case more minimalist and expressive as it relates to the phone.

Unlike the Nüüd for iPhone 5c and its screenless technology, the Frē utilizes a thin protective cover over the phone’s screen. Besides being a better seal to keep out water, this keeps your phone clean and prevents scratching on your investment. That is a main difference between the Frē and Nüüd cases – covered vs. open face. The other difference is the price: the Frē is cheaper by about $10; you can find them initially on sale for $79.

The Frē case continues design principles originally seen in the original iPhone 5 case. The case consists of two halves that snap together to house your phone. In doing so, they compress an o-ring seal that keeps water out of this entry into the case. A thin screen covers the front of the phone that is ultrasonically welded around the interior perimeter. Otherwise, the only area water can enter are the ports. The microphones and speaker ports are one way waterproof. The headphone jack functions as a screw with an oring at its base, which compresses and seals when the screw is tightened. Access is allowed for the small Apple charger so the phone can charge in its case. A small latch at the bottom of the case allows for this, and it seals against a gasket when closed.

The Frē for iPhone 5c allows for full control of your phone while it is in the case. This includes access to the power, home, volume buttons and ringer switch to toggle vibrate/ringer function. Waterproof headphone usage is allowed using a special adapter that seals against the headphone input. Full control of both cameras (one protected by glass) and multiple speaker / microphone vents allow for full speakerphone and music playback function. The case is extremely small and lightweight and is best in class for this degree of waterproofing.

Dimensions, Ratings and Technical Specifications

Company:

LifeProof

Title:

Frē

Phone:

iPhone 5c

Release Date:

November, 2013

Height:

5.46″ / 138.7mm

Width:

2.67″ / 67.8mm

Thickness:

0.55″ / 14mm

Weight:

1.2oz / 35g

Initial Price:

$79

Colors:

Black with clear back, white with clear back

Depth Rating:

6.6 ft, 60 minutes

Drop Test:

6.6 feet

Dust Proof:

IP-68 rating

Crush Proof:

n/a

Use Headphones:

Yes

Waterproof w/ Headphones:

Yes, with adapter

Charging Port:

Yes

Home Button:

Yes

Power Button:

Yes

Volume Buttons:

Yes

Ringer Switch:

Yes

Camera:

Yes

Flash:

Yes

Front Camera:

Yes

Front Sensors:

Yes

Microphone Ports:

3

Speaker Ports:

2

Materials:

Plastic, soft overmold

Closure System:

Snap Fit, o-ring, plastic latch

Screen Protector:

Yes

Touch ID:

Yes

Like the Nüüd for iPhone 5c, this case is only available in black and white colors with clear backing. This allows for the pastel colors of the 5c to show through, with the LifeProof case contrasting against it nicely. It will be interesting to see if LifeProof releases further color variations on this case in the future.

LifeProof has released their flagship product for the iPhone 5s, the Frē. Available in the standard 10 color selection, LifeProof has improved on their existing line in terms of size and weight of the case. They have also redesigned the home button to be completely functional with Apple’s new Touch ID functionality.

LifeProof’s engineers have done a great job reducing excess material on this case. Compared to the Frē for iPhone 5, they have removed 5mm from the height of the case, 2mm from the width of the case, and 0.5mm from the thickness. This combines to make a case that is 2g lighter than its predecessor. The net effect is a smaller, more low profile case that better grips the size of your phone. Equal protection with less bulk and weight is always a good thing.

Compared to LifeProof’s Nuud line of cases, the Frē features a thin, clear protective cover over the screen of the phone. It is strongly sealed to the top piece of the case, so water does not get anywhere near the phone. This also provides scratch protection for the strong glass screen of the iPhone 5s, offering better protection for your investment. The trade off is you have a then screen to contend with between you and the phone, which which might reduce how the phone feels in your hand.

While initially available in black and white, the Fre for 5s is available in a wide arrange of colors, including black, white, cyan, flat earth, magenta, teal, yellow, olive, and red. These are the same colors that came out in waves after the Fre for iPhone 5 was released. It is unclear whether more colors or different options will debut for the 5s version.

It is important to note that this case is backward compatible with the iPhone 5 – either phone works in it.

This case features everything you know and love about LifeProof cases, including all functions, buttons, 6.6ft of waterproofing, shockproofing, and in case charging capability. Waterproof headphone connection is available on this model using special headphones. Full use of both cameras (the rear protected by glass), multiple audio ports and speaker ports allow you to take speakerphone calls or listen to music. The LifeProof engineers have created a thin film over the Home button that allows for transmission of Touch ID for Apple’s new fingerprint identification.

Dimensions, Ratings and Technical Specifications

Company:

LifeProof

Title:

Frē

Phone:

iPhone 5s

Release Date:

November, 2013

Height:

5.4″ / 132.2mm

Width:

2.74″ / 69.6mm

Thickness:

0.49″ / 12.45mm

Weight:

0.96oz / 27.2g

Initial Price:

$79

Colors:

Black, white, cyan, flat earth, magenta, teal, yellow, olive, red

Depth Rating:

6.6 ft, 60 minutes

Drop Test:

6.6 feet

Dust Proof:

IP-68 rating

Crush Proof:

n/a

Use Headphones:

Yes

Waterproof w/ Headphones:

Yes, with adapter

Charging Port:

Yes

Home Button:

Yes

Power Button:

Yes

Volume Buttons:

Yes

Ringer Switch:

Yes

Camera:

Yes

Flash:

Yes

Front Camera:

Yes

Front Sensors:

Yes

Microphone Ports:

3

Speaker Ports:

2

Materials:

Plastic, soft overmold

Closure System:

Snap Fit, o-ring, plastic latch

Screen Protector:

Yes

Touch ID:

Yes

Overall, an outstanding case by LifeProof. The most impressive thing is how they reacted to the Touch ID curveball and could design and execute such a project under tough time constraints. LifeProof finds a way.

Lifeproof has released an awesome new waterproof case for the iPhone 5c. Expanding on their Nüüd product line (which leaves the front screen exposed but waterproof), the case features a clear backplate that shows off the pastel color of the 5c phone.

The case continues with the original Nüüd that was developed for the iPhone 5. The engineers at LifeProof were able to leave the front screen exposed, so you actually touch it, while making the case completely waterproof. This means that water will come in contact with your glass screen, but no damage will occur (the water has nowhere to go). They accomplish this by a gasket seal along the inner perimeter of the screen opening, preventing water from reaching sensitive parts of the phone.

The Nüüd for the iPhone 5c borrows many of the design principles from the iPhone 5 version. Full controls are available for the volume buttons, home button, power and ringer switch. The micro charging port is accessed via a latch at the bottom, that has a gasket on it that seals when closed. The headphone input has a threaded screw with an o-ring around it. It can be removed to allow headphones in, and by using the LifeProof adapter, this creates a sealed waterproof environment. So you can use your headphones in the rain or in the pool, if you wish.

The back is transparent polyurethane that was first available as an limited edition for the iPhone 4/4s model. Here, it makes its big time debut and with great cause – it allows the brilliant color of the 5c to show through the case, personalizing the case to the phone.

Dimensions, Ratings and Technical Specifications

Company:

LifeProof

Title:

Nüüd

Phone:

iPhone 5c

Release Date:

December, 2013

Height:

5.46″ / 138.7mm

Width:

2.67″ / 67.8mm

Thickness:

0.6″ / 15.24mm

Weight:

1.4oz / 39.69g

Initial Price:

$89

Colors:

Black w/ clear back; White w/ clear back

Depth Rating:

6.6 ft, 60 minutes

Drop Test:

6.6 feet

Dust Proof:

IP-68 rating

Crush Proof:

n/a

Use Headphones:

Yes

Waterproof w/ Headphones:

Yes, with adapter

Charging Port:

Yes

Home Button:

Yes

Power Button:

Yes

Volume Buttons:

Yes

Ringer Switch:

Yes

Camera:

Yes

Flash:

Yes

Front Camera:

Yes

Front Sensors:

Yes

Microphone Ports:

3

Speaker Ports:

2

Materials:

Plastic, soft overmold

Closure System:

Snap Fit, o-ring, plastic latch

Screen Protector:

No – perimeter seal, you touch actual touchscreen

Overall, an awesome offering from LifeProof. The exposed touchscreen, while offering less protection from scratching, allows for full contact with the phone, which many people cannot give up. Thus, it is the best of both worlds – a fully waterproof case without a insensitive touch screen. The cases are coming in at an industry high ($89) pricepoint but lowest pricing can be found on Amazon.

After some initial redesign to incorporate the new touch sensor main menu button, Lifeproof has released a Fre waterproof case that fully protects the screen of the new iPhone 5s. The case is similar to the Fre for iPhone 5 but has a redesigned home button control that appears thinner, shallower, and lower profile.

This redesign allows for the iPhone 5s to confirm biometric identification of the user using the home touchscreen, a new security feature released on the 5s. Thus, the user can identify themselves and immediately unlock the phone, or lock into sensitive apps or accounts. The fre style case features a built in scratch protector that covers the main screen, which forms part of the waterproof structure of the case.

Testing: Each of LifeProof’s cases are water tested before arriving at your door.

Compared to the original iPhone 5 Fre, the main difference is that home button which may account for the slight drop in total weight (from 1.05oz). Or perhaps the Lifeproof team has found an area to remove weight from the design.

Colors and Pricing

Due to the similarity in manufacturing, the Lifeproof fre for iPhone 5s is being launched with all of the same colors as the original iPhone 5 model:

Cyan

Dark Flat Earth

Lime

Magenta

Teal

Yellow

Black

White

Olive Drab Green

Red

And the best news is that this case is priced at a bare bones $55… a steal from the usual $80 Lifeproof cases.

It seems like LifeProof will be reinventing the wheel when it comes to waterproof cases for the iPhone 5s and 5c. After announcing the new iPhones on September 10th, LifeProof posted the above tweet about creating custom fit solutions for fre/nuud models for the 5s and 5c. Obviously, they quickly made a determination that they would have to go back to the drawing board. Likely, the 5s will borrow heavily from existing fre/nuud models but the 5c will be a brand new case to to the thickness difference (9mm 5c, 7.6mm 5s)

One can only speculate as to what is driving the redesign for the 5s (since it is the exact same size as the 5), but the fingerprint scanning touchsensor might be an unsolved issue. Not sure how LifeProof will be able to incorporate that functionality with a waterproof layer of plastic on top. If they can’t include it, how will they spin that into their marketing?

We now know that white is the new black, and LifeProof is coming out with a bang releasing their screenless waterproof case for the iPhone 5. Shortly after announcing their latest and greatest iPhone case that has no screen protector whatsoever (the case forms an inner seal on the touchscreen), the company began shipping the black version. Days after, they now release the white version, which is generating a lot of interest from the public.

As shown above, it seems that the black was so popular that it immediately sold out.

We have posted the full specs on the Nüüd waterproof case for the iPhone 5. This case’s color is technically being called white / smoke due to the translucent back piece, which provides a seamless and lightweight appearance to this minimalist case.

Hopefully LifeProof is hard at work on a rainbow of colors like they have done for the cheaper iPhone 5 Fre case and the original iPhone 4/4s case in the past.

Design

LifeProof’s new nüüd screenless waterproof case for the iPhone 5 is an awesome new direction for the company. The ability to have a waterproof case without a bulky screen protector is a game changer and a great product. LifeProof recently released the sizes and technical specs on the case and it is quite a beauty indeed.

Obviously, the major difference compared to LifeProof’s frē case for iPhone 5 is that the nüüd does not have anything covering the phone’s screen. The case creates a seal around the edges that allows your screen to be directly used, get wet, but not become damaged (iPhone screens are made of strong glass). Thus, there is an additional o-ring seal on the nüüd case and the inner portion will appear different from the frē

The other major difference is that the nüüd case features a clear backing instead of a standard black, white or colored back piece. This is purely aesthetic and was a popular limited edition for their iPhone 4 case. On the nüüd it looks pretty cool and contributes to the minimal design of the case. With a clear back and exposed touchscreen, it is almost as if you aren’t using a case at all.

LifeProof’s recently announced that they would be making a nüüd style waterproof case for the iPhone 5. This style differs from the populate Frē waterproof case as it lacks a plastic cover on the front screen, instead sealing around the perimeter. The dual benefit being you can directly touch your touchscreen and while using a waterproof case to 2m (6.6ft). An industry first, and a pretty sweet product. They introduced this product originally for iPads and are now extending it to iPhones.

LifeProof might have gotten some marketing advice from OtterBox who acquired LifeProof in May. Before releasing the case, they have given away some nüüd demos to be photographed and hyped.

The case is not out but should begin shipping within the next few weeks for a price of $99.